When I started blogging way back in 2004, as far as I know, there was only one other South African blogging about food and that was my friend Brian over at Kitsch ‘n Zinc.  And that’s the way it stayed for some time.

And then, since about 2007, South Africans have started peeping over the parapet and coming out as food bloggers.  Some are living abroad like me, others are still in South Africa, while others are foreigners who have emigrated to South Africa – but the wonderful thing is that they all write about the tastes of the place my heart calls home, to a greater or lesser extent.

I started this directory of South African food and wine bloggers here on CookSister as a way to keep track of the the ever-increasing number – and the growth seems to have continued exponentially!  I encourage you to cast your eye over the growing list, and to go and browse their diverse interpretations of South African food and wine. And if you know of a blog (must be predominantly about food and must have strong South African connections) that I have missed, please drop me an e-mail and I will add it.

On a (fairly!) regular basis I will also feature short interviews with some of the bloggers on the list below so that you can get to know them a little better.

FOOD BLOGS

20Something in Cape Town – Amy is a foodie, 20something, and in Cape Town – like the title says!

66 Square Feet (The Food) – Marie lives and cooks in New York – with frequent visits to South Africa!

A Beautiful Life – Fiona is a talented cook and food photographer from Cape Town

A Cook on the Funny Side – Crystal hails from my hometown of Port Elizabeth and now blogs from France

Add to Taste – great home cooking from Hila in Cape Town

All You Can Eat For Free – Jono writes with wit, flair and style – and cooks a mean dinner too

Alunanaartjie [archived]- chef Kerry is back and cooking in Cape Town after a stint in Egypt

A Man in the Kitchen – food wine and travel from Norman in… the kitchen. 😉

Anina’s Recipes – Anina is a free-spirited recipe developer, baker, caterer… and food blogger from Johannesburg

Bakercourt – Stacey is anohter South African living in London, baking up a storm

Batonage – Hennie & Maggie in Cape Town rating restaurants and wineries

Betty Bake – beautiful baking from Cape Town that’s gluten- and (sometimes) sugar-free

Bits of Sunshine – Heidi is a formidable baker from Durban, as well as an excellent food photographer

Browniegirl Blog – Colleen blogs from Cape Town and runs the SA Food and Wine Blogger Indaba conference together with me

Butterfingers – Capetonian Ming-Cheau loves food (also roller derby and baby animals, both of which make frequent appearances on her blog!)

Cape Town by Mouth – Marianna and Cameron working their way around Cape Town’s restaurants

Cape Town Insider – includes Cape Town news and restaurant reviews by area, price and meal (dinner, brunch etc.)

Chef Angeliqueca – ex-industrial kitchen chef Angeliqueca, now a catering co-ordinator & food blogger in beautiful St Francis Bay

Chef Caro – not only a great Cape Town food blogger but also Food24’s resident chef

Chef Privé – Jaclyn is a trained chef in Cape Town, now working in product development

Chillieliefde – Nadia from Pretoria is a chilli addict and bakes wonderful celebration cakes

Chocswirl [archived] – Join pastry chef Robyn in Cape Town for sweet temptations

Cooking and Eating with Polkadot Cupcake [archived] – Polkadotcupcake talks about food, cooking & eating in Cape Town

Cooking Through the Seasons – Kate blogs from Clifton with gorgeous photos

CookSister! – that would be… me here in London

Confessions of a Hungry Woman – talented writer Sam blogs from Cape Town

Cucina Carolina – Carolina runs a coffee shop & deli and blogs from The Strand

Daily Dose of Fresh – fresh recipes, ideas and photos from Magda in Mpumalanga

Deelishuss [archived] – Ms Kamini indulges her food (and crockery!) passion in Cape Town

Dishing up Nirvana – Nirvana keeps the South African foodie flag flying in Sydney

Domestic Goddesses – less fat, less sugar but ALL the flavour with Thekla in Cape Town

Drizzle and Dip – Samantha is a boutique baker and food stylist from Cape Town

Eat Cape Town [archived] – Independent restaurant reviews from around the Mother City

Eating Covent Garden – Sandy is another South African expat eating her way through London town!

Faridah’s Flavours [archived] – sugar, spics and all things nice from Faridah in Joburg

Fired-up Cooking – Zabwan shares her recipes from Pietermaritzburg

Flavour Cape – Cape foodie Kim Maxwell shares restaurant reviews and recipes

Food & Family – Kit did what I did in reverse and moved from England to the Cape

Food and the Fabulous – Ishay in Cape Town is fabulous and loves food – need I say more?!

Food I Love – Larry braais his way through the UK “summer”, when he’s not busy selling his fine beef biltong!

Food Monger – Kristy shares her recipes and gorgeous photographs from Cape Town

Gluten-Free South Africa [archived]- Living gluten-free in Cape Town – with desserts and baked goods

Greedy Gourmet – SA Expat Michelle takes some of my favourite food photos

Gummy Chews – Carmella shares her recipes and mouth-watering food photographs from Pretoria

Healthy Vegetarian Foods – Usha has had a lifelong passion for food and shares delicious vegetarian recipes on her blog

Hey Pesto! – Cathy has followed her tastebuds all over the world and now eats and blogs in Cape Town

Homemade Heaven – Rosemary – another Cape Town foodie!

How to Cook an Elephant – Chef Lara blogs from Cape Town

Huiskok – warm and talented Errieda shares her beautiful recipes from Cape Town (in Afrikaans)

I Love Cooking – Fab recipes from TV producer Anne in Cape Town, with gorgeous photos.

Jamie Who? – Jamie writes up recipes and restaurant reviews from Cape Town

Janice Tripepi – cooking and eating Italian (and Thai… and Chinese…) in Durban

Jenna-Lea Bakes – spectacular  baked creations

JessKa’s Kitchen – Jessica is the owner of an adorable pink Kitchenaid & blogs from Johannesburg

Just Food Now – no recipes, but cosmopolitan culinary essays from Jacoba

Just Me Shel! – Michelle in Port Elizabeth dishes up food – and beautiful tablescapes

Kitchenboy in Taiwan – Wynand cooks South African in Taiwan

Kitsch ‘n Zinc – Brian used to work in Cape Town restaurants but he’s better now

Koek! – Robyn prepares and eats gorgeous food in Cape Town

Kosserasie Stories [in Afrikaans – archived]– Dirk cooks fearlessly – think potjie soufflés!

Lavender and Lime – inspiring cooking from Tandy in Cape Town

Leaine’s Kitchen [archived] – learning to eat deliciously around dietary limitations in Johannesburg

Lick Your Own Bowl [archived]- Robyn is a South African expat blogging from Canada

Life is a Zoo Biscuit – Anel in Cape Town writes and photographs food beautifully on her award-winning blog in Cape Town

L’il Deli – Candice lives and cooks in Paris, introducing her French family to South African favourites

Maddie’s Vine – Madeleine grew up in South Africa but now lives and cooks in Istanbul, Turkey

Marmite on Toast – Lisa-Jane in Durban – interior designed by day, food blogger by night!

Meals on Speed – Saaleha’s speedy cooking blog for working wives (Johannesburg)

Michael Olivier – much-loved restauranteur, wine afficionado and raconteur, based in Cape Town

Mieliepap (in Afrikaans)

Mint Tea and Tagine [archived] – Wendy serves up exotic posts and stunning photos from Morocco

Mother City Living – living the “green” life in Cape Town

Mrs Robinson’s Kitchen – baking mad mom Heather’s blog is packed with classic recipes

My Easy Cooking – Nina cooks up a storm in Cape Town

My French Kitchen – Ronell lives the good life in France

My Mezzaluna – recipes, markets and drop-dead-gorgeous photos from Edwina in Dubai

Mzansi Style Cuisine – the fabulous Thuli wows us with her modern take on traditional South African dishes

Now Cooking [archived] – gorgeous Italian food from talented Fabio in Cape Town

Pomegranate Days – Sam gave up the hectic life of a chef for motherhood and a kitchen in the beautiful Paarl valley

Rainbow Cooking – Marietjie and Jaco educating New Zealanders about South African food

Real Men Can Cook – Fritz in Cape Town is a blues man and a fan of good food

Relax with Dax – Dax keeps you up to date with restaurant reviews from Cape Town

Rosseau’s Restaurants – restaurant reviews in the Western Cape & garden route

Rumtumtiggs – Tami’s family-friendly recipes and foodie exploits in Cape Town

Sardines on Toast – Kobus cooks up a storm on the beautiful Cape West Coast

Scrumptious Blog – Juno in Cape Town answers the age-old question “what’s for supper?”

Shades of Cinnamon – Ev in Durban shares her passion for recipes and food photography

Simply Delicious – the clue’s in the name – delicious recipes from Ally in Pretoria

Sommelier Miguel Chan Wine Journal – a wealth of info on top South African wines

Sous Chef – Sue’s blog from Pietermaritzburg is bubbling over with personality (and recipes!) – just like Sue herself!

Sout en Peper – talented Neil blogs beautifully from near De Kelders (in Afrikaans)

Spill – recipes, reviews and restaurants from Clare in Cape Town

Taryne Jakobi Food Styling – Talented Taryne is a food stylist in Johannesburg – the food is almost too pretty to eat.  Almost!

Taste and Treats – Gaby cooks up tasty treats in Cape Town

Taste Buds – Christiaan in Johannesburg is an actuary by day but a foodie and a dad by night

The Boozy Prune – Brad in Knysna is on a quest to bring you his favourite recipes, restaurants and wines

The Complete Cookbook – Mandy (now in Mauritius but soon to be in Sundays River) shares her family recipes

The Creative Pot – Marisa in Stellenbosch and her obsession with food

The Food Fox – Ilse dishes it up beautifully from Stellenbosch

The Foodie – based in Cape Town, The Foodie knows that wine and bacon are all you need in life

The Global Table – Louise and Salvelio blog about food from my hometown of Port Elizabeth!

The Good Food Quest – Mary seeks out tasty, sustainable food & destinations in Cape Town

The Gorgeous Gourmet – Candice, Cape Town catering company queen-in-the-making

The Healthy Lunchbox – Debbie’s healthy lunchbox inspirations

The Two Olives – a South African mother and daughter team reviewing restaurants and products in Hertford, England

There can be only Juan – Juanita’s gluten-free deliciousness and life in general

Till We Meat Again [archived] – Sarah cooks up a storm in Sydney

Timeless Herb Secrets – Di-Di Hoffman owns the Bouquet Garni Nursery and knows his herbs

Two Suitcases and a Tin Pot – Liezl’s confessions of a “frequently relocating abligure” – written from George on the Garden Route

UndomestiKATEd – writer, actress and foodie Kate in Cape Town

Vanielje Kitchen – the lovely Inge hails from Cape Town but blogs from Wiltshire [inactive]

Voer – Arcadia and Jvdh blog beautifully in both English and Afrikaans, from Pretoria and the UK

Wat Eet Ons? [archived] – Barry in Cape Town: proper manly South African cooking (in Afrikaans)

Whale Cottage Blog – Chris’s outspoken views on the Cape Town restaurant scene

What’s Cooking – Barry’s English blog – expect barbecues

Whipping It Up – the exploits of a trained pastry chef living in Cape Town

Why I Am Not Skinny – Maxine is a South African living in Brussels and exploring the foods of Belgium

Wicked Food – blog of a Johannesburg-based cooking school

Will Work for Biltong – Adele flies the culinary flag from Melbourne, Australia

Word Chef Says… – restaurant reviews, recipes and more from Joburg

Wots For Lunch – daily bento-style lunchboxes from Cape Town

Yummilicious by Adeela – Adeela in Johannesburg serves up a feast of traditional and modern dishes

WINE BLOGS

A Minute of Wine – a blog of short film clips about South Africa’s top wine estates and personalities

A Word from the Herd – news and views from Fairview wine estate and cheesery

Back Chat Blog – blog by Simon Back of the Backsberg estate

Bubbles on Wine – blog by Pieter Ferreira of Graham Beck wines

Cape Chatter – the official Wines of South Africa blog

Cathy Marston – wise words on wine from Cathy in Cape Town

Douglas Green – a blog from the popular Douglas Green wine brand

Grape – a collection of blogs by various independent South African wine writers

Haute Espoir – blog of the Haute Espoir boutique winery in Franschoek

Hein on Wine – wine blog of La Motte wine estate’s MD

Kumkani – the blog of Kumkani wines

Leopard’s Leap – the blog of Leaopard’s Leap wines

My Weekly Wine – Alison in Cape Town is a freelance writer and editor with a passion for wine

Pendock Uncorked – unbiased expert opinions on wine from Neil Pendock

Spit or Swallow – reviews of South African wine estates

The Pinotage Club – Peter’s celebration of this unique South African cultivar

What I Drank Last Night – good booze food & company from a former WINE magazine editor

Warwick Wine – blog of the Warwick wine estate

Wine Republic – a group blog featuring news and views on the South African wine scene

Wine Diva – news and views from wine diva Caroline

Wine Goggle – talking about food and wine in Cape Town and the winelands

Wynland Wingerd Waaibs – a blog by qualified winemakers and Wynland/Wineland magazine writers Edo & Elona